MANILA, Philippines — At least 11 suspected cases of the monkeypox or mpox were being closely monitored by health authorities in Eastern Visayas, Cebu and Mindanao.
In Eastern Visayas, Chona Ruizo, chief of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said the region has three suspected mpox cases—one each in the towns of Basey and San Jorge in Samar province; and one from Catarman, Northern Samar.
The ages of the suspected mpox cases ranged from 6 to 65 years old, she said on Saturday.
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All specimens from these suspected cases, she said, have been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for confirmatory testing.
“This means that, as of now, Eastern Visayas has no confirmed mpox cases,” Ruizo said.
Despite the absence of a confirmed mpox case in the region, she said the department continues its monitoring and surveillance efforts.
“We must remain vigilant as we continue our advocacy against mpox,” Ruizo said.
In Tacloban City, Mayor Alfred Romualdez on Sunday expressed relief upon learning that the suspected mpox patient in the city tested negative.
“Last week, we had a scare of mpox, but we are thankful it turned out to be negative,” he said.
Mpox, according to health officials, is infectious until all sores have healed.
Its symptoms include fever, cough, rashes, headache and muscle pain, among others.
Mandaue monitoring
Health officials in Mandaue City in Cebu also recorded six suspected mpox cases.
According to Dr. Debra Maria Catulong, head of the Mandaue City Health Office, these suspected cases were identified during consultations last week.
These individuals, she said, were advised to undergo home isolation and have been provided with medical and food kits. However, one of them went out of the house to buy some items.
Catulong urged those exhibiting symptoms of mpox to remain at home for three weeks, as advised by doctors, to prevent the spread of the disease.
Specimens from the six individuals had also been sent to the RITM. The results were expected within three weeks.
Soccskargen cases
In Mindanao, two suspected mpox cases were recorded in the Soccsksargen region (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) .
Dr. Dyan Zubelle Parayao, chief of the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said they were still gathering data on the travel history of the two persons to trace the possible source of the virus that infected them.
Parayao said the specimens from the two persons have been sent to RITM.
Parayao said the patients, whose places of residence were not revealed, were now in isolation to prevent them from infecting other people.
Globally, the mpox disease has been classified as a “public health emergency of international concern.”
Parayao said mpox is a viral disease that spreads through close contact and contaminated materials such as sheets, clothing and needles.
“We highly recommend physical distancing, regular washing of hands and, if symptoms are observed like fever, rashes, lumps, headaches, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, must be reported to local health units,” she emphasized.
She also recommended the regular use of face masks, especially in crowded places. —reports from Joey Gabieta, Nestle Semilla-Dacay and Edwin O. Fernandez